Back home, I felt a fatigue in my system -that sort of exhaustion that originated from a mixture of frustration and anxiety.
The two soldiers are still missing and there is a rumor on social media that they could be dead. It had disturbed the Colonel and his superiors that he communicated he would intensify the search round the jungle.
Alone, I had squashed that thought and sat down in deep meditation for an hour to keep the monster called anxiety in check.
After my mind is de-toxified, I made a simple dinner out of instant noodles and eggs and quickly settled myself in front of my laptop. I searched about the history and sources of the Kwek family and its related logos and symbols.
The results were a revelation. I sieved through the results and was pleasantly surprised to find public sources of information on the evolution of the family emblem. Some sites were defunct, but there was one particular site owned by JJ Wong that seemed active.
10th July 2019 “Dr. Anthony Jin? The Supernatural Professor?” My breakfast of toast and eggs was rudely interrupted. “I sound like I've just been cursed.” I shot back with a dose of sarcasm. “I am sorry, but everyone calls you by that name,” he said. I stopped stirring my Kopi-O and looked up at the disrupter of my breakfast routine. “You’re not from the media I hope,” I asked. “I assure you I’m not, Dr Jin.” “Don’t call me Supernatural Professor. Just call me Ant. Everyone calls me that.” I asserted. I tried to ascertain the speaker’s identity, but the sunlight behind the figure made it hard for me to make out his facial features. I stood up to get a better view but he continued. “Some call you the Bridge. The Bridge to the other worlds.” I winced at that description written by Singapore Global, a journalistic social site with over a million subscribers. It was an inconvenient overstate
There was no verbal agreement, but I decided I should help the Colonel. I paid for my breakfast and then walked to his vehicle, ready for him to bring me to his Base Camp. On our way to his car, the Colonel briefed me in a tone that was warmly soothing. Three NS Men are missing during a military exercise. Usually, one would expect a water bottle, knife, or toggle rope in such missing incidents, but the search party had found nothing. The men had disappeared without a trace. Earlier interviews with their friends and platoon mates had indicated they were behaving normally with no evidence of depression or mischievous intent. As the Colonel recounted, my mind burst into hyper mode. What had taken them? What’s inside the forest? Just when we were about to enter the lift to the car park, I heard my name being called. I turned around and found a familiar figure running towards me, hands in
For the past twenty-five years, there has been a movie reel in my mind. Many nights, in my dreams, that reel will replay the scenes of the fateful day my parents disappeared. The dreams carried a nightmarish tone in the initial years, but as I grew up, stronger in management of sorrow, it mellowed into a plain trailer. I had learned to tame the monsters in me, though at times, I struggled with the powers that came with my lone existence. My growing-up began when my parents embarked on a journey to Japan on a mission to search for the roots of my mother’s family. My mother had always wanted to explore her Japanese ancestral roots. As a child, she had listened to her grandmother’s talk about her father’s family, who were based in the mountainous region of Nagano. They, the Kaneko, had served for generations in the imperial court under the samurai clan. War brought my mother’s Japanese family tree to Singapore. They left in 1945 after the defeat but returned a few
The journey to Bukit Pandan was a knotty one. There were two accidents at the Kranji Expressway, and the Colonel had to take the nearest exit. The weather was not helpful for the prevailing moods with overcast skies. The clouds seemed pregnant with dark vibes. I felt there was a message. My intuition had picked up some frequency, but I was unable to put shape to it.The disappearance of the three National Service boys was for a cause, perhaps an unnatural one, but I couldn’t confirm it. I knew the Colonel had put much trust in me, and I needed to be careful in managing his vibes. I could sense he was deeply troubled and needed my help, yet I did not have his complete trust. I had experience dealing with such moods.As he turned into the Old Bukit Pandan road, he started to narrate.“We’ll be there soon. There is a road, an old one that we used to move our boys in for training. The entrance is on the eastern side of the f
As I reeled from the shock and struggled for an answer demanded by the new arrival, CK came to the rescue. “This is Dr. Anthony Jin. He teaches at the University of Singapore.” “University of Singapore? Then why is he here?” A flush of heat crawled down my neck. I felt like a 10-year old who had been caught playing truant and now had to give a reason for my existence. I had never before in my life felt the need to do so. “I had clearance from the Chief, ASP Wong.” The Colonel continued in a firm tone and his face had a unflappable expression. A man of steel who had seen rough waves. He turned to me and smiled. “This is Assistant Superintendent Wong. She leads the police team who is assisting us with the search operation.” The lady police officer rolled her eyes over to me and then looked at the Colonel. “How is he going to help you? Help us?” Her thoughtful questions had the Colonel mellowing h
After the brief by the Colonel, I headed back to my office. Whilst on the road, my mind was brimming with theories on the whats and what ifs of the disappearance of the soldiers. The stories I had heard about Bukit Pandan in the past were never taken seriously. I never thought I would have any entanglements with the place. Now, that seems to have changed. There was a streak of light from the setting sun that shot through the foliage of trees outside onto my desk. How apt! Just like the new responsibility that had just fallen on it My heart is heavy. There is real danger, but I cannot put shape to that menace. How things have changed. This morning, I had expected a run-of-the-mill week – the usual grind of lectures and tutorials. But by evening, I had been sucked, succinctly by destiny, into what could potentially be an exciting adventure. Three missing soldiers. Where could they have gone? A real case of AWOL? They are dead? I quickly
The jungle was a sea of darkness and in the background, a cacophony of insect sounds heralded the start of darkness. The Army had a few field lights mounted along a path that led to the Base Camp. Were it not for the illumination, I could barely see my hands. The only respite I enjoyed was the fragrance of the Pandan plant, which carried a soothing quality. It was a favorite ingredient in Chinese dessert soups. “What was that?” I asked, referring to the series of lights floating through the darkness. “Search party. The last for tonight.” Staff Chua explained, “It’s getting late. Almost nine pm and we don’t want to lose another soldier to the night.” He sounded dispirited. I soon noticed everyone I met in the tentage was plain tired. “Did they make any progress after I left?” Staff Chua shook his head. “Where is the Colonel?” “He left to brief the Ministry officials. He mentioned he would be back to meet you later.
I mastered my breathing like taking the reins to a running horse. Bringing it down to a steady and firm gallop, I found myself slipping into the mode of meditation. Like I've found a door, I entered and found myself hearing the innate temp of the woods, a crisp and low thumping tone. I trained my mind to scan my landscape, almost like a supernatural radar. Nothing happened. I could still hear the insects, Razali’s breathing. I also felt the vibes of Staff Chua, a dare devil’s attitude, and the overwhelming dampness of the forest. Then it came, sliding into the frame. A whiff of air built into an icy breeze. There was a void, that familiar emptiness when I crossed dimensions. In a moment, I could no longer hear Razali or the insect squeaks. I had successfully entered the other dimension. The world that is invisible to the average human being. As I opened my eyes, I was greeted by a dark environment with a scene of sporadic stars of illumination. Each